Mankhurd chawl collapse: Maha Minister orders probe, Oppn demands action against guilty

July 6, 2026

Mumbai: Expressing grief over the deaths of six, including five children, after a three-storey chawl collapsed amid heavy rains in Mumbai’s eastern suburb Mankhurd, the Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan announced a stringent inquiry will be initiated into all such dangerous and illegal buildings in the city.

He said, “The accident that took place in Mankhurd’s Janta Nagar is extremely unfortunate. I travelled directly from Nashik to inspect the site and assess the situation. The lanes in this area are exceptionally narrow, and houses have been stacked precariously on top of each other. Structures with a ground footprint of just 12 by 12 feet have had three additional floors erected above them. Most of these constructions are unauthorised.”

Upon receiving news of the incident, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde rushed to the Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi to meet the victims’ families, offering her condolences and support. MLA Abu Azmi and Rukhsana Siddiqui were also present during the visit. According to preliminary reports, the structure — located near the Hanuman Temple in Chawl No. 5, Janta Nagar — consisted of a ground floor plus three additional stories. When the houses collapsed, several residents were trapped under the debris.

Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Mumbai Fire Brigade, local police, municipal ward officials, and 108 Ambulance services, rushed to the spot. A rescue operation was launched on a war footing to pull out those trapped under the rubble, who were then rushed to nearby medical facilities. Local corporator Navnath Ban was present at the site to coordinate the rescue efforts.

The victims were shifted to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi and Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar. The tragic incident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Janta Nagar locality of Mankhurd. Two to three houses within a poorly constructed three-story chawl suddenly gave way. The collapse claimed the lives of five children and one woman, leaving one other individual injured and currently undergoing medical treatment. Ironically, the disaster struck while the residents were packing up and preparing to evacuate the dilapidated structure due to safety concerns.

Identification of deceased

Authorities have identified the deceased as Alia (7), Muskan (14), Nihal (6), Nabia (2), Soni (32), and Munaf (7). All the deceased belonged to the same family. A 24-year-old Rehan Ali survived the collapse and was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar. Doctors treating him have confirmed that his condition is currently stable. Rescue operations at the site are ongoing.

According to initial reports, a section comprising two to three homes within the chawl suddenly collapsed, sparking panic across the neighbourhood. Upon receiving the alert, fire engines, police personnel, municipal ward staff, and 108 Ambulance services rushed to the spot. Debris clearance and search operations were initiated immediately to rescue those trapped under the rubble.